Bret Bielema Douglas C. and Linda M. Mills Endowed Head Football Coach | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
Bret Bielema Douglas C. and Linda M. Mills Endowed Head Football Coach | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer has been named to the preseason watch list for the 2025 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. The announcement was made by The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc., and presenting sponsor A. O. Smith Corporation.
Altmyer is among 58 players on this year's watch list and is one of eight from the Big Ten Conference. He was recently selected as one of six team captains for the Illinois football team for the upcoming season. Altmyer has also appeared on several other preseason watch lists, including those for the Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year, Davey O'Brien Award, and Manning Award.
The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award is in its 39th year and recognizes the top senior or upperclassman quarterback set to graduate with his class. The selection process involves a committee of college football journalists, commentators, announcers, and former players.
"Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Website
Last three winners:
2024: Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
2023: Jayden Daniels, LSU
2022: Max Duggan, TCU"
Altmyer's recent accomplishments include being named a 2025 team captain and earning spots on multiple award watch lists such as Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten Second Team and Athlon Preseason All-Big Ten Third Team. He was also nominated for the Wooden Citizen Cup and received an honorable mention in the All-Big Ten selections last year.
He leads all active players nationally with five career game-winning drives in either the final minute or overtime. In 2024, he started all 13 games for Illinois and helped lead them to a 10-3 record—matching their single-season wins record—and threw 22 touchdown passes against just six interceptions.
Other Illinois players recognized on various national award watch lists include Tanner Arkin (John Mackey Award), Hank Beatty (Paul Hornung Award), Bret Bielema (Dodd Trophy; Allstate AFCA Good Works Team), J.C. Davis (Outland Trophy), Kaden Feagin (Doak Walker Award), Lane Hansen (Patrick Mannelly Award), Gabe Jacas (Lott IMPACT Trophy; Bronko Nagurski Trophy; Chuck Bednarik Award; Lombardi Award), Aidan Laughery (Doak Walker Award), Kenenna Odeluga (Allstate AFCA Good Works Team; Allstate Wuerffel Trophy), and Xavier Scott (Bronko Nagurski Trophy; Paycom Jim Thorpe Award; Chuck Bednarik Award).
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